Marine Installation Connecting Structure for Offshore HVDC Substations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVDC substations for offshore wind farms are costly and space-intensive due to their large size and weight, requiring extensive manual production and separate, powerful crane ships for installation, with submarine cables needing large bending radii and separate cable decks, which increases complexity and expense.
Innovation Solution
A connection structure with a horizontally circumferential, vertically extending metallic wall that connects seabed anchorages to electrical power engineering structures, featuring a spatial area for cable routing and self-priming pumps, allowing for reduced size and weight by integrating cable connections and cooling systems within the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional HVDC substation foundation is constructed using a large number of individual steel elements welded together to form a massive structure, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the weight and installation cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation is divided into multiple individual steel elements (pipes and pipe nodes) that are assembled together to form the complete structure. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of smaller components that can be produced more efficiently and assembled using available installation equipment, rather than constructing one massive monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable routing function is merged with the foundation structure itself. The hollow interior of the steel pipe elements provides integrated cable conduits, eliminating the need for separate cable decks and routing systems. This combination reduces overall structure weight while maintaining both structural and cable routing functions.
2Reliability
If submarine cables are routed with their required large bending radius of 3-5 meters outside the substation structure, then cable integrity is protected, but additional space and separate cable decks are required
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing system is nested within the foundation structure. The hollow interior space of the steel pipe elements serves as integrated cable conduits, allowing cables to be routed through the foundation itself rather than requiring external cable decks. This nesting approach protects cables while utilizing existing structural space.
Solution Approach 2:
Cable routing is moved from a two-dimensional external path on cable decks to a three-dimensional path through the hollow interior of the foundation pipes. This dimensional transition allows cables to follow the vertical and horizontal pathways within the foundation structure, maintaining required bending radii without requiring additional external space.
3Productivity
If a separate, more powerful crane ship is used for installing the massive foundation, then the installation capability is improved, but the installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation is segmented into smaller standardized steel elements that can be installed using conventional crane ships already deployed for wind farm construction. This segmentation enables the use of available installation equipment rather than requiring specialized powerful crane ships, reducing installation costs while maintaining structural integrity through proper assembly of the segmented components.
4Ease of manufacture
If manual production methods are used for constructing the foundation elements, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but the cost per installed ton of steel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation is divided into standardized segmented elements (pipes and pipe nodes) that can be manufactured using efficient standardized processes and then assembled. This segmentation enables a transition from purely manual production to more efficient standardized manufacturing and assembly procedures, reducing cost per installed ton while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to different installation scenarios.
Data Source
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AI summary
A connecting structure (100) is provided for connecting a seabed anchoring (100) with a structure (157) for electrical power engineering, comprising: a horizontally circumferential wall (101) extending in a vertical direction, which delimits a space area (105); a first connecting section (107) designed for connecting to the structure (157); a second connecting section (109) designed for connecting to the seabed anchoring (111).